U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) — a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee — is pushing for stronger U.S. and international efforts to secure the return of more than 19,000 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia since the start of the war, calling the mass kidnappings a direct assault on families and a challenge to America’s moral leadership.
During a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing this week, Britt joined Senators Lindsey Graham R-S.C., Richard Blumenthal D-Conn. and Amy Klobuchar D-Minn. — members who have jointly advocated for the children’s return and introduced the Designating the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act.
The proposal aims to increase diplomatic and economic pressure on Moscow to account for and return the missing children.
Britt described the issue as one that should resonate with American families. “I hope that this goes to the heart of every parent across our nation, everyone. I mean, think about your child being ripped from your arms. Think about not knowing where your kids are on their birthday or milestones or tragic experiences,” she said.
Calling for decisive American leadership, Britt added, “Look, I think allowing this to occur as a nation, it goes against the very fabric of who we are as a country … I join you in asking our European allies to step up and to do the very same thing that we’re doing today, but we are here today because America must do something. And you cannot be a great nation if you are unwilling to do good. And there is no doubt that these kids need us. They need us to raise our voice.”
She also praised First Lady Melania Trump for her involvement in the effort to reunite the abducted children with their families.
“I want to thank the First Lady for her tireless effort on this. Senator Graham, I want to thank you, Senator Blumenthal (and) Senator Klobuchar. (I) stand with you in bringing every one of these kids home and appreciate this. And I think we have a moral obligation to keep this going until we get every last one of them back into their parents’ arms.”
The bipartisan group plans to continue pressing for accountability and additional global cooperation to ensure each child is safely returned.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
